Meaning & use
upload
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move a file or data from your own device to a server or the internet.
Grammar: Can take an object (upload a photo) or stand alone (the file is uploading). Often used with to: upload to the cloud.
Patterns
- upload something
- upload something to something
- upload from something
Please upload your assignment to the class website before Friday.
She uploaded a short video from her phone.
The photos are uploading slowly because the connection is bad.
nouncountable
A file or piece of data that has been sent to a server or website.
Grammar: Countable: one upload, two uploads. Often used in phrases like 'an upload of the report'.
Patterns
- an upload of something
- a large upload
- the upload speed
The upload finished in a few seconds.
You can see all your recent uploads in the folder.
The upload speed here is much slower than the download speed.
Word forms
| third person singular | uploads |
|---|---|
| past tense | uploaded |
| past participle | uploaded |
| -ing form | uploading |
Common combinations
- upload a file
- I need to upload a file to the shared drive.
- upload a photo
- He uploaded a photo of his new puppy.
- upload to the cloud
- All our records are uploaded to the cloud automatically.
- upload speed
- A fast upload speed makes video calls smoother.
Synonyms and how they differ
- post
- Use post when you put content on a website or social media for others to see, not just move a file.
- transfer
- Transfer is a general word for moving data between places; upload is specifically from your device to a server.
- submit
- Submit means to send something for official consideration, often by upload; it focuses on the purpose, not the technology.
Opposites
Word family
- uploader noun
- A person or tool that uploads files.
- uploadable adjective
- Able to be uploaded.
Commonly confused: upload or download?
upload vs download
Download means to bring data from a server to your device; upload is the opposite direction.
Practice
Before the meeting, please ______ the slides to the shared folder.
Choose one answer.
Upload means to send files from your device to a server or shared folder. Download is the opposite direction, and 'up load' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “upload”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.